Dispensing and collection fluids with wireline chamber tool

ABSTRACT

A wireline chamber tool for dispensing and collecting fluid is disclosed. The wireline chamber tool includes a tool body having an internal chamber therein, a piston within the internal chamber that divides the internal chamber into a proximal portion and a distal portion, a circulation port disposed in the tool body, where the circulation port is configured to provide fluid communication between the distal portion and an outside of the tool, and a filling port disposed in the tool body, wherein the filling port is configured to provide fluid communication between the outside of the tool and the proximal portion.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Background Art

Wireline tools can be used to carry out various downhole processes. For example, wireline tools may be used to performed operations such as collecting formation samples from a wellbore, performing well diagnostics, logging well data, or completing other exploration and production procedures. Wireline operations carry associated risks such as a tool string getting stuck in the wellbore or the release of low density formation fluid into the wellbore as a result of formation sampling operations. Consequences of such scenarios include costly down time and potentially dangerous conditions for crews working on site.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In general, in one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a wireline chamber tool for dispensing and collecting fluid. The wireline chamber tool includes a tool body having an internal chamber therein, a piston within the internal chamber that divides the internal chamber into a proximal portion and a distal portion, a circulation port disposed in the tool body, where the circulation port is configured to provide fluid communication between the distal portion and an outside of the tool, and a filling port disposed in the tool body, wherein the filling port is configured to provide fluid communication between the outside of the tool and the proximal portion.

In general, in one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of operating a wireline chamber tool. The method involves filling a distal portion of an internal chamber within the wireline chamber tool with a first fluid, actuating a piston within the internal chamber to dispense the first fluid through a circulation port, and filling a proximal portion of the internal chamber with a second fluid.

In general, in one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of operating a wireline chamber tool involving actuating a piston within an internal chamber of the wireline chamber tool, drawing contaminated well fluid into an internal chamber of the wireline chamber tool, and performing a sampling operation substantially simultaneously with the actuating the piston.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a wireline equipment setup.

FIG. 2 is a an illustration of a drill string in a damaged or irregular well bore.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a wireline chamber tool according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 3B is a side cross-sectional view of a wireline chamber tool according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a wireline chamber tool in different phases of actuation according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a tool assembly having a chamber or several chambers that is run on wireline for releasing a stuck wireline tool and to enhance the safety of wireline sampling operations by collecting the formation fluid into the chamber(s) and avoid pumping out the fluid into the wellbore. More specifically, the chamber(s) are connected to the sampling tool to store pumped out fluid. In an additional embodiment, acid may be circulated across the sampling points in order to remove formation damage and enhance the efficiency of the sampling operation.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example wireline equipment set up 100 is shown. The wellbore 102 receives a tool string 104 that is lowered into the wellbore by a wireline 106 that is tethered at the wellbore surface. The tool string 104 may include an assembly of several different tools required to perform a particular downhole operation. For example, the tool string 104 may include logging and measurement tools and sampling tools. While the wellbore 102 is shown as being perfectly cylindrical with ample space between the tool string 104 and walls of the wellbore 102, this may not always be the case. Wellbore walls can sustain damage or otherwise change shape over time and may protrude into the wellbore.

During wireline procedures in wells with irregular walls, the tool string may contact the irregular portions of the wellbore wall it is lowered into or removed from the wellbore, as shown in FIG. 2. The wellbore 202 is not perfectly cylindrical and includes damaged regions 210, 212, 214 where the wellbore diameter is reduced. As the tool string 204 is lowered into or retrieved from the wellbore using wireline 206, the damaged regions 210, 212, 214 of the wellbore may cause one or more tools on the tool string 204 to become stuck. Pulling harder on the wireline 204, which may be referred to as over-pull, can cause damage to the wellbore, tool string, or both. In instances when a stuck tool cannot be retrieved, a portion of the well, or even the entire well, may be lost. Thus, there is a need to lower the risk of a tool string becoming stuck in a wellbore in order to minimize costly non-production time and/or damage to the wellbore and tool string that may be caused during stuck tool retrieval operations.

In addition to increasing the risk of stuck tools, damaged formation or formation surrounded by debris and/or contaminants can reduce quality of samples collected during wireline sampling operations. For instance, a sampling tool may retrieve a formation or fluid sample that includes a high amount of debris or contaminants and a relatively low amount of the material of interest. Such a sample may not be representative of the actual formation or fluid, and as a result, may not provide reliable information that can be used to understand the condition of the well. Accordingly, there is also a need to improve sample quality by clearing damaged formation, debris, and contaminants away from a region of interest prior to performing sampling with a sampling tool.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a wireline chamber tool 300 is shown. Wireline chamber tool 300 may be used to reduce the likelihood of a tool string getting stuck in a wellbore, free a tool string that has already become stuck in the wellbore, and/or clear a region of interest prior to conducting a sampling process by dispersing a formation etchant to interact with wellbore side walls. The tool 300 may further collect low density fluid, for example hydrocarbon during a sampling operation, from the wellbore to reduce the risk of a well control event. The wireline chamber tool 300 may be operated in a variety of ways to provide additional benefits during downhole operations, as will be discussed herein below.

In one or more embodiments, wireline chamber tool 300 includes a generally cylindrical body 314 having a side wall 328 and at least one internal chamber 316 therein. The chamber may be any compartment capable of storing/holding fluid. An internal piston 318 is movable within the internal chamber 316 along a longitudinal axis 320. As the internal piston 318 moves distally, the volume of a distal portion 322 of the internal chamber decreases while the volume of a proximal portion 324 of the internal chamber correspondingly increases. The tool 300 further includes a circulation port 326 which provides for selective fluid communication between the internal chamber 316, specifically between the distal portion 322 of the internal chamber, and an outside of the tool 300. Thus, when the tool 300 is lowered into a wellbore, the circulation port 326 selectively provides fluid communication between the internal chamber 316 and the wellbore (not shown). The circulation port 326 may be disposed within the side wall 328 of the tool 300 near a distal end 330. A proximal end 332 of the tool 300 may include a filling port 334 (also known as an injection port) to allow fluid from outside of the tool 300 to enter the tool 300 and be stored within the internal chamber 316. The proximal end 332 of tool 300 may further include a mechanical connection configured to couple with another tool, for example a sampling tool, on the tool string that is proximal to the wireline chamber tool 300. In one or more embodiments, the mechanical connection may be a threaded connection using the standard API (American Petroleum Institute) thread types.

In some embodiments, fluid may be pumped into the tool 300 through the filling port 334 before the tool 300 is lowered into a wellbore. In one or more embodiments, the fluid can be injected from the surface where the fluid will be below the piston. Alternatively, the filling port 334 may be also connected to the sampling tool pump to allow the fluid to inter without bypassing the piston and thus in this case pushing the piston to displace the fluid that was initially in the chamber. Referring to FIG. 4A, the fluid may be stored within the distal portion 322 of the internal chamber 316 while the tool is lowered into the wellbore as part of a tool string 404. The internal piston 318 may be selectively electrically actuated via the wireline to move distally within the internal chamber 316. The piston 318 is configured to push the fluid out of the chamber. The piston may be actuated by pressure actuation, by batteries or pre-set pressure applied from fluid. As the internal piston 318 moves distally (FIGS. 4B, 4C), fluid within the distal portion 322 of the internal chamber 316 is pressurized and overcomes a threshold pressure resistance provided by, for example, a valve within the circulation port 326. When the fluid pressure exceeds the threshold, fluid from the internal chamber moves through the circulation port 326 and exits the tool 300 into the wellbore.

Correspondingly, as the internal piston 318 moves distally, a negative pressure may be created within the proximal portion 324 of the internal chamber 316. Fluid from the wellbore may be drawn into the proximal portion 324 of the internal chamber 316 through the filling port 334 or through a separate port near a proximal end 332 of the tool 300. Wellbore fluid may enter the filling port as the port is connected to a sampling tool which pumps out the fluid into the port. Wellbore fluid may be stored within the internal chamber and returned to the surface when the tool string is removed from the wellbore. The fluid may then be collected from the wireline chamber tool 300 for analysis or disposal.

In some embodiments, an electrical filling pump may be disposed at the proximal end of the tool 300 which can be electrically actuated to pull well fluid into the proximal portion 324 of the internal chamber 316. Filling of the proximal portion may apply pressure to the internal piston 318 and fluid contained in the distal portion 322. The applied pressure may cause fluid in the distal portion 322 to exit the tool 300 through circulation port 326.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while FIG. 3 shows a single chamber 326, the tool 300 may include a plurality of chambers or compartments depending on the volume desired.

FIGS. 4A-4C show an embodiment wherein the distal portion of the internal chamber 316 is filled with a fluid, such as an acid with inhibition, prior to being lowered into the wellbore. Portions of the tool string 404 may contact damaged formation areas 410, 412, 414 and become stuck within the wellbore 402. As shown in FIG. 4B, the internal piston 318 is actuated to selectively pressurize the fluid contained in distal portion 322 of internal chamber 316 such that the pressurized acid exits the tool 300 into the well 402. Notably, circulation port 326 is located on the side wall 328 so that pressurized acid is directed toward a wall of the wellbore where it may contact and etch away protruding portions of damaged formation wall 410, 412, 414. Referring to FIG. 4C, the acid works to break down the damaged regions so that the tool string can be lowered into or removed from the wellbore 402 without damaging the tools or further damaging the wellbore walls. In some embodiments, actuation of the internal piston 318 may be manually or automatically triggered in response to detecting that the tool string is stuck. Detecting that the tool is stuck during removal may include determining that the tool string is not moving toward the surface despite applying a pulling force on the wireline. Alternatively, determining that a tool is stuck during lowering may include detecting slack in the wireline. A stuck tool may be identified by overpull where the tool cannot be pulled out, or the overpull exceeds the weak point limit which will disconnect the tool from the wireline cable. Determining that a tool is stuck may prompt an operator or operation system to actuate the wireline chamber tool 300.

Another embodiment of operating the wireline chamber tool 300 does not require the tool to become stuck before dispensing acid into the wellbore near damaged formation. Rather, internal piston 318 is actuated when the tool 300 is near one or more known damaged areas 410, 412, 414 of the wellbore where there is a risk of tools being damaged or stuck. Such a damaged area may be detected in substantially real time by measurement tools on the tool string 404 or the damaged areas may have been previously detected and mapped as part of a separate well evaluation process. The pressurized acid is directed toward the wellbore wall by the circulation port 326. The acid interacts with the wellbore wall to break down protruding areas within the damaged area 410 and circulate the resulting debris proximally where it is either flushed back to the surface for filtering or where it may be drawn into the proximal portion 324 of the internal chamber 316.

In another embodiment, the distal portion of the internal chamber 316 is filled with an acid that can be selectively pressurized using the piston 318 such that the acid exits the tool into the wellbore. The piston actuation may occur once the wireline chamber tool 300 is determined to be near a region of the well where a sampling operation will take place. The wireline chamber tool 300 may be stationary or moving within the wellbore during actuation. It may be advantageous to dispense the acid while the wireline chamber tool 300 is moving within the wellbore to expose a length of the wellbore wall to the acid at higher pressure for improved cleaning.

Exposing the wall of the wellbore to pressurized acid may help to clean debris and contaminants away from the wellbore wall. The cleaning operation can be performed prior to the sampling operation in order to improve the quality of formation samples collected by the sampling tool. The formation sample is collected by a separate sampling tool that may be located proximal to the wireline chamber tool 300 on the tool string.

Formation sampling operations may have the undesirable consequence of releasing low density fluid, such as hydrocarbon, into the well. Low density fluid rushing into the well can reduce the hydrostatic pressure in the well and can lead to potentially dangerous well control events. Simultaneously performing the sampling operation while actuating internal piston 318 may allow wireline chamber tool 300 to collect low density fluid in the proximal portion 324 of internal chamber 316 as acid is dispensed into the well from distal portion 322. The low density fluid can be stored within tool 300 and can be removed with the tool string for later disposal or testing, thereby mitigating the risk of pocket of low pressure fluid traveling up through the well toward the surface, pushing the high density fluid column toward the surface, or otherwise destabilizing the well pressure.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to have increased control over the hydrostatic pressure balance within the well. In such situations, the wireline chamber tool 300 may be filled at the surface with a clean well fluid, also referred to as “mud,” having a desired density which is higher than the density of formation fluid. During the sampling operation, internal piston 318 of the wireline chamber tool 300 may be actuated to dispense the mud into the well through circulation port 326 while collecting well fluid that has been contaminated with low density formation fluid. Injecting high density well fluid while removing low density formation fluid from the well can balance hydrostatic pressure, thereby improving safety during sampling operations.

While the embodiments discussed above refer to a wireline chamber tool having both proximal and distal portions within the internal chamber, alternative embodiments are possible wherein the tool includes only a single portion within the internal chamber. In such embodiments, the internal chamber may be kept empty until the formation sampling operation is performed. While no acid or mud is dispensed into the wellbore, the wireline chamber tool can be actuated to pull well fluid into the chamber to collect low density and potentially dangerous fluids in a syringe-like fashion. In contrast, the single chamber may be filled at the surface with acid and may be later actuated to dispense the acid if the tool encounters or otherwise detects damaged formation. The single chamber may alternatively be filled with mud at the surface and the tool may be actuated in response to detecting low hydrostatic pressure within the well.

Operation of the wireline chamber tool may involve steps such as filling a distal portion of an internal chamber within the wireline chamber tool with a first fluid, actuating a piston within the internal chamber to dispense the first fluid through a circulation port, and filling a proximal portion of the internal chamber with a second fluid. The method may further involve drawing contaminated well fluid into an internal chamber of the wireline chamber tool, and performing a sampling operation substantially simultaneously with the actuating the piston.

Embodiments disclosed herein allow for a fast reaction in case of stuck wireline operation. Any wireline sampling operation is made safer by integrating the chamber into the current wireline logging tool and having the ability to spot acid immediately in case wireline tool got hanged or stuck which will enhance the possibility of freeing the tool. The sampling operation is enhanced by spotting acid across the sampling points, which will help in removing formation damage. The safety of operations is improved by reducing the pumped out volume hydrocarbon into the wellbore during sampling operations.

While various configurations and methods of operating wireline chamber tools have been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should be limited only by the attached claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireline chamber tool for dispensing and collecting fluid, the wireline chamber tool comprising: a tool body having an internal chamber therein; a piston within the internal chamber, wherein the piston divides the internal chamber into a proximal portion and a distal portion; a circulation port disposed in the tool body, wherein the circulation port is configured to provide fluid communication between the distal portion and an outside of the tool; and a filling port disposed in the tool body, wherein the filling port is configured to provide fluid communication between the outside of the tool and the proximal portion.
 2. The wireline chamber tool of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the internal chamber and push fluid out of the chamber.
 3. The wireline chamber tool of claim 2, wherein the piston is electrically actuated.
 4. The wireline chamber of claim 2, further comprising an electrically actuated pump configured to pull well fluid into the proximal portion through the filling port and pressurize stored fluid in the distal portion.
 5. The wireline chamber tool of claim 1, wherein the circulation port is disposed on a side wall of the tool body.
 6. The wireline chamber tool of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the tool body comprises a threaded connection configured to mechanically couple with a sample tool.
 7. A method of operating a wireline chamber tool comprising: filling a distal portion of an internal chamber within the wireline chamber tool with a first fluid; actuating a piston within the internal chamber to dispense the first fluid through a circulation port; and filling a proximal portion of the internal chamber with a second fluid.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising performing a sampling operation substantially simultaneously with the actuating the piston.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first fluid comprises one selected from a group consisting of acid and clean well fluid.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the second fluid comprises contaminated well fluid.
 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting formation damage, wherein the actuating the piston is performed in response to detecting formation damage.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting that a drill string comprising the wireline chamber tool is stuck within the well, wherein the actuating the piston is performed in response to detecting that the drill string is stuck.
 13. A method of operating a wireline chamber tool comprising: actuating a piston within an internal chamber of the wireline chamber tool to dispense a first fluid through a circulation port; and performing a sampling operation substantially simultaneously with the actuating the piston.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first fluid comprises one selected from a group consisting of acid and clean well fluid.
 15. A method of operating a wireline chamber tool comprising: actuating a piston within an internal chamber of the wireline chamber tool; drawing contaminated well fluid into an internal chamber of the wireline chamber tool; and performing a sampling operation substantially simultaneously with the actuating the piston. 